Box Score SAN FRANCISCO -- SF State managed to hang with Cal State Los Angeles, but couldn't overpower the Golden Eagles despite a late surge in the second half. Shots just didn't seem to fall in favor of the Gators at The Swamp, resulting in a 59-53 defeat Saturday night.

"We are a team that searching on how to play in the moment," said SF State head coach Dr. Joaquin Wallace.  "Our confidence or lack there f has been our achilles heal this season." 

With the loss, SFSU drops to 7-5 overall, 4-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Cal State L.A., on the other hand, improves to 11-4 overall and 6-2 in CCAA action.

Angela Van Sickel led the attack for the Gators, picking up 12 points on the night. Farrah Shokoor was right on the brink of a double-double, finishing the night with nine points and a team-high 11 rebounds. 

Two Golden Eagles finished the night with points in double digits, led by Tessondra Williams with 17 points. Paige Melville followed closely behind with 16 points. Richelle Najera grabbed a game-high 12 boards, with nine of them coming on defense.

The Gators took the first lead of the game with a 3-0 run, but quickly found themselves in a battle to keep the lead. Williams put the Golden Eagles ahead 5-3, but Nicole Hicks and Van Sickle each added two points to put SF State up at 7-5. After some scramble at the Gators' defensive end of the court, Hicks snagged the ball off the glass and found Michaela Booker driving to the basket to give SFSU its largest lead of the night at 9-5.

Tied at 13-13 with six minutes left before halftime, Shokoor finally found the bottom of the net after a few missed chances for tip-ins, putting the Gators up 15-13. The lead didn't last long however, as the Golden Eagles tied the game once again in the very next play to initiate a 8-4 run to take a 21-19 lead over SF State at the half.

Only trailing by two points, the Gators struggled to find points in the opening drive of the second half, finding themselves in a 10-point hole. Shokoor finally cut the Golden Eagles' lead by making a jumper at the 16:41 mark--SFSU's first basket in the half. 

Down 37-28, Shokoor started a six-point run to bring the game within one possession at 37-34. Williams' shot from beyond the arc doubled the lead to six points, but Samantha Campos answered right back by dribbling past defenders for a layup. Desiree Collins followed with a jumper of her own to once again put the game within reach.

As the Gators continued to breathe down the necks of the Golden Eagles, CSULA held onto its lead coming down the stretch. SF State sent Golden Eagles to the line, hoping to get the ball back in its possession, but the Golden Eagles finished crucial free throws as the minutes ticked away.

With just under two and a half minutes left in the contest, Van Sickel was fouled as she attempted a shot from behind the three point line. Van Sickel finished two of her three free shots to tie the score at 49-49. 

The Golden Eagles responded with five points, putting pressure on the Gators to once again result to fouling, which CSULA capitalized on the free points to grab the 59-53 victory.

San Francisco State looks to bounce back as it hits the road, traveling north to Humboldt State for a Thursday contest. The Gators then head south to face Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday for another CCAA showdown.